Numerous Import-Related Investigations Proceed At U.S. Trade Agencies
Josh Snead
Recent decisions by Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) have moved forward several investigations of allegedly unfairly traded imports.
Commerce preliminarily found on May 30 that Korea is providing countervailable subsidies to producers/exporters of large residential washers at levels ranging from .22 percent to 70.58 percent, and that Vietnam is providing countervailable subsidies to exporters/producers of steel wire garment hangers at levels ranging from 11.03 percent to 21.25 percent.
Commerce also preliminarily found on May 30 that China is providing countervailable subsidies to producers/exporters of utility-scale wind towers at levels ranging from 13.74 percent to 26.00 percent. The wind tower investigation is the second recent investigation relating to imports of renewable energy products from China. In its ongoing investigation of photovoltaic cells and solar panels, Commerce reached affirmative preliminary CVD and antidumping (“AD”) determinations in March and May, respectively. Preliminary CVD rates range from 2.90 percent to 4.73 percent, and preliminary AD margins range from 31.14 percent to 249.96 percent.
Commerce preliminarily found on May 24 that imports of circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe from India, Vietnam, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates are being dumped at margins ranging from 0.00 percent to 48.43 percent.
On the basis of these preliminary determinations, Commerce has instructed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits or post bonds at the identified rates on all imports of the covered products. Final duties will only be imposed as a result of these investigations if both Commerce’s final AD and/or CVD determination and the ITC’s final injury determination are affirmative. Commerce is scheduled to release its final determinations in each of these investigations between August and October.
In the investigation on High Pressure Steel Cylinders from China, all six ITC commissioners voted unanimously on May 30 that the U.S. industry is materially injured by imports of high-pressure steel cylinders from China, which will allow the imposition of duties due to Commerce’s earlier final AD and CVD determinations. Duties will be imposed at AD margins ranging form 6.62 percent 31.21 percent and a CVD rate of 15.81 percent.
In addition to completing the investigations referenced above, as well as others, Commerce and the ITC will be investigating imports of xanthan gum from China and Austria in the coming months as a result of an AD petition that the U.S. industry filed on June 5. | 
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